Use of fishmeal in ruminants discussed

A report by Member of the European
Parliament (MEP) Struan Stevenson calls to lift the ban on feeding fishmeal and fish oil
to ruminants. The report stresses that "there is no scientific evidence to
support a total ban on fishmeal on the grounds that it may transmit BSE or other
TSEs".

Fishmeal is rich in both essential amino acids in the form of protein, and in
the long chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA (PUFAs) which
provide health and welfare benefits to animals. Meat, milk and eggs from farm
animals fed on fishmeal and oil are, in turn, foods that benefit human health
states the report.

However, fishmeal has been included in the feed ban
(for ruminants only) because the Commission perceives that it could be
accidentally or deliberately adulterated with (banned) meat and bone
meal.

Marine discards Feeding the
discards from marine fisheries to ruminants will both benefit the marine industry
(Europe accounts for up to 1 million tonnes discards annually) and may be
beneficial in ruminant diets. The report suggests that use of discards by the
fishmeal and fish oil industry should be examined, given the swiftly expanding
EU aquaculture sector.